Russian diplomat says Finland will be first to suffer during NATO escalation

Mikhail Ulyanov
Mikhail Ulyanov

Finland will be the first to suffer if there is an escalation between NATO and Russia, Moscow’s representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said in an interview with the RIA Novosti propaganda outlet on Dec. 27.

"They [Finland] were living calmly, peacefully and suddenly found themselves between Russia and NATO as an integral part of the alliance, but they are our neighbors, and God forbid, if there is any aggravation, Finland itself will be the first to suffer," Ulyanov said.

Read also: Putin threatens ‘problems’ for Finland as NATO ally, contrasts previous ‘cordial’ ties

Increased defense cooperation between the United States and Finland, which will give the U.S. military access to bases in the country, is a serious challenge to Russia, according to Ulyanov.

Ulyanov is known for engaging in high-profile online spats in 2022 by arguing with pro-Ukraine group NAFO accounts, which use Shiba Inu avatars.

Read also: Russia likely using 'artificial' migration crisis as tool to destabilize West amid power struggle, says Finnis

The diplomat's line "you pronounced this nonsense, not me" became a viral meme.

Ulyanov continues to unwittingly entertain online while staunchly defending Russia's political positions.

After launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia accused the "collective West" of waging a "puppet war" and warned that it would build up its forces on its western borders after Finland joined NATO.

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